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Wayne County Community Foundation, Youth Advisory Committee presented two separate grants to Western Wayne High School students Rachel Hoch and Sydney Hutchinson on Friday, January 24. 

          Ryanne Jennings and William Gershey, representing the Wayne County Community Foundation, presented the grants to the students.

Rachel Hoch, sophomore, received a grant to use for her senior project.  The project involves her work with Western Wayne High School’s annual spring Catwalk fashion show themed “Tune into Fashion”.  Rachel will work to plan decorations for the show along with sewing other projects for the event.  She also will choose a charity to donate proceeds from the event to.

 “I felt glad I wrote the grant,” Rachel explained.  “I know the funds will greatly benefit our spring show along with the community that will get to enjoy seeing it.” 

Fellow classmate Sydney Hutchinson, junior, received her grant for her senior project which is a 5K color run to take place at Western Wayne High School on May 16.  More information on her project will be available at www.westernwayne.org in the spring.  Sydney is a member of both the Cross County and track teams and has an interest in studying business in college.  She believes that her project will combine all of her interests and give her some experience in event organizing.

 “I’m excited to use the grant money to develop an amazing 5K event for the public to enjoy,” Sydney explained.  

Western Wayne High School administration and staff feel proud of these students who received grants and encourage the community to come out and enjoy both of these upcoming spring events.

Picture one, from left, standing:  Trina Barcarola (YCA), Mrs. Colleen Carmody, Rachel Hoch, and Brendan Fitzsimmons (YCA).

Picture two, from left, standing: Trina Barcarola, Mrs. Laura Wojnar, Sydney Hutchinson, Mrs. Annette Fox, and Brendan Fitzsimmons (YCA).

This year Western Wayne High School has begun a student ambassador program. Ambassadors greet visitors to the high school and escort them to their destination in the building among participating in other school events. In November, the ambassadors went through a training with Julie Bialkowski from Penn State Scranton.
Senior Lenny Maiocco explained how students learned a variety of skills at the training like how properly to shake hands, how to introduce themselves, how to speak at an accurate volume, and how to be open in speaking to others along with how to dress in a presentable manner. In addition, all student ambassadors have Western Wayne blazers with the school emblem on them to wear to look uniform and professional for all of the events they participate in.
The following high school students are a part of the program:
Celeste Orchard, Madison McGlone, Jamie Bryan, Kaeli Romanowski, Skylar Long, Cyrah Bihler, McKenzie Laity, Miranda Montijo, Cassidy Asinski, Angelia Reggie, Trina Barcarola, Landon Firmstone, Zane Janiszewski, Alex Amorine, Asia Nichols, Sinclaire Ogof, Brendan Fitzsimmons, Zachary Rovinsky, Jack McAllister, Parker Howell, James Fryzel, Derek Mason, Lenny Maiocco, Alaina Maiocco, Abby Black, Sinaea Buford, Ashton Fitzsimmons, Morgan Coccodrilli, Sydney Peet, and Ezra Tetreault.
The students felt very excited to attend their first event, Curriculum Night in January. The student ambassadors had the pleasure of serving as escorts for 8th grade students and their families to give them a taste of what the high school has to offer. The following ambassadors attended Curriculum Night: Jamie Bryan, Cassidy Asinski, Miranda Montijo, Celeste Orchard, Trina Barcarola, Lenny Maiocco, Ezra Tetreault, Derek Mason, Brendan Fitzsimmons, and Landon Firmstone.
Senior Landon Firmstone was especially glad to share information about the Robotics Team to an eighth grader in his tour group. Landon is highly involved in the Robotics Team and feels privileged to help pass on the legacy of the club to future freshmen.
“You almost don’t realize how much you know about the school until you serve as an ambassador and have to pass on your knowledge about it,” Landon, who aspires to study business management in college, explained.
Fellow ambassador Jamie Bryan also made connections with students in her Curriculum Night group. Jamie is a proud member of the Western Wayne Marching Band and discussed how she met five students who have an interest in joining band in high school.
“It was great to relate to possible future band students,” Jamie said. “I hope I helped them to feel confident in their decision to join our band.”
Senior Class President Ezra Tetreault explained how he also took time during Curriculum Night to inspire young students.
“I really wanted to impress on them that they can be who they want to be at our high school,” Ezra explained. “Whether it is in band, Spanish classes, business classes, sports, everywhere you look there is another opportunity to find yourself at our school.”
In addition to the ambassadors attending Curriculum Night, they have also started giving high school campus tours to visitors from the community.
Senior James Fryzel was the first ambassador to give a tour. He escorted John Brennan and Paul Brown from the Carbondale Technology Transfer Center (CTTC). Brennan and Brown spoke to Theresa Lubash’s marketing class about the CTTC which is a place to help people start businesses. The students learned how at CTTC they provide business and technical support, guided access to funding for businesses, and space with no long-term leases among a variety of other services and resources.
James felt honored to be able to give the opening student ambassador tour to Brennan and Brown. He was able to show them around the high school before taking them to his marketing class where they gave their presentation. Just as James was glad to share his knowledge of Western Wayne with the businessmen he was also glad to gain knowledge from his experience with them as was his marketing class.
“I learned that hard work and dedication can get you far in the business world,” James explained. “I think it is important to learn from people who have experience.”
James’ marketing class will be working to gather ideas for CTTC’s marketing department and will make a trip to CTTC as a way to further enrich their business studies.
James and all of the other Western Wayne student ambassadors look forward to meeting and welcoming more community members into their school.
Pictured are the members of the Western Wayne Student Ambassador Program. Row 1 (l to r): Celeste Orchard, Madison McGlone, Jamie Bryan, Kaeli Romanowski, Skylar Long, Cyrah Bihler, McKenzie Laity, Miranda Montijo, Cassidy Asinski, Angelia Reggie, Trina Barcarola, Landon Firmstone, Zane Janiszewski, and Alex Amorine. Row 2 (l to r): Asia Nichols, Sinclaire Ogof, Brendan Fitzsimmons, Zachary Rovinsky, Jack McAllister, Parker Howell, James Fryzel, Derek Mason. Absent from photo: Lenny Maiocco, Alaina Maiocco, Abby Black, Sinaea Buford, Ashton Fitzsimmons, Morgan Coccodrilli, Sydney Peet, and Ezra Tetreault.

Western Wayne High School Chorus students participated in the PMEA District Chorus Festival from January 15 through January 17.  Sophomore Joanna Regalbuto qualified for the PMEA Region Chorus Festival, which will be held on February 26 through February 28 at the Greater Nanticoke High School.  Pictured are the Western Wayne High School Chorus students who participated at this year’s District Chorus Festival.  From left: Brad Wood, Alex Taylor, Dakota Beavers, Rhonda Fenkner, Andie Solimine, Joanna Regalbuto, and Trinity Williams.

The Western Wayne High School Band and Chorus entertained students and staff on the day before the holiday break per years long tradition.  Everyone enjoyed the in-school holiday concert that lifted their spirits.